3-[(2-Aminoethyl)dithio]propionic Acid (CAS 15579-00-7)

3-[(2-Aminoethyl)dithio]propionic acid is a compound that has application in biochemical and biophysical research due to its unique structural features, which include a dithiol group attached to an amino acid backbone. This bifunctional nature makes it a valuable crosslinking agent in the study of protein-protein interactions and protein conformational changes. By forming disulfide bridges between cysteine residues on proteins, it can help elucidate the structural and functional dynamics of protein complexes. It is also used in the design of peptide mimetics and in the stabilization of protein structures for analytical purposes. Additionally, the compound′s reactivity with metal ions makes it a point of interest in the field of bioinorganic chemistry, where it may be used to understand metalloprotein binding sites and the role of metals in biological systems. In material sciences, its potential for creating polymers with specific functionalities is explored, particularly in the development of responsive or self-healing materials.